Honored, Humbled, and Hope!

So much to share since my last blog entry and as Brooke told me two days ago, it's time to update your blog mom" and then she proceeded to tell me last night as she was looking at my lab report I received yesterday that had my age on top of it, in a high pitched amazement voice "Mom, your in your 30's!!!, I just turned and gave her the "look" and she said, WOW I thought you were like 50 or something!!" Really, do I look that bad? Nothing like a 12 year-old to keep you young at heart!

I was able to meet with my former AstraZeneca partner when I started with the company, two weeks ago for dinner, Kristi Allison.  She and her husband Cade (another former Odessa College and Texas Tech baseball player who Brian coached against while he was in Trinidad, CO- small world) met us, not just for friendship reasons but to give us something very unexpected.  At the last AstraZeneca regional meeting, I had been honored by management where they showed my video, of which some of you have seen and others have not, where I shared that I had been diagnosed with Breast Cancer.  I have not been able to convert it to HTML format in order to post it on this website, so if anyone out there can help....., anyway, Kristi took it upon herself to talk to people about her connection to me and how I was doing and they all raised money to help our family out during this time.  Brian and I were NOT expecting this humbling and generous donation that came our way.  I cried and hugged her and said thank you, thank you, thank you!!  We continue to be so blessed by so many that we don't even know, it is just breathtaking.

We were able to have a great Easter celebration with my mom and dad coming back to bring Lincoln and spending a few days with us.  We sure do miss him when he is gone, but the most important thing for me is for him to spend that quality time with his grandparents.  My grandparents were always thousands of miles away in Mexico and I never got to really know them except for a visit once a year for a few days.  I just never got that "bonding" experience with them. Therefore, it has been my goal to have all four of my kids', before they reach school age to spend as much time with my mom and dad as they can - doing what grandparents should do - spoil away!! And they have done just that with each one of them.  As with Brian's mom who was taken from us so suddenly to cancer just four years ago, we never know when that time will come and they will no longer be with us, so I implore all of you - either as a parent or as a grandparent, cherish your time and don't be selfish with your time, on either part. I don't think anyone is asking for expensive things, just unconditional love and time, whether a trip to the park, a dollar store run, a trip to get an ice cream just you and them, sit down and read a book anything that say's this is MY TIME WITH YOU! Let them go by themselves, it's good for all, the memories are indescribable.  No excuses for those long distances anymore, we LOVE SKYPE!!  or Tango on the phone, you can talk and see each other for free anytime!

Easter 2011

I practiced for my first pitches at Howard College Baseball and Softball Breast Cancer Awareness Day on April 30th! A total of 4 coaches were involved in my training, two softball and two baseball (one was my husband!).  I needed this for two reasons.. 1) I want nothing but the best 2) I needed HELP!! since I had NEVER touched a softball or baseball prior to this that I could recall, eeeeekkkk is right!  I played basketball, volleyball, track, and was a cheerleader from elementary age through high school in my hometown, but that was the extent.  As a spectator, I am just that a spectator!!  I had never really watched a game, been to them for fun, to eat and enjoy the crowd until I met Brian and he started teaching me the fundamentals 10 years ago, he still teaches me everyday!  Well here it is a video of my first Softball pitch..... Can't get it to upload from utube. will try later.....

First Hawk Baseball Pitch! Tears were rolling!

This is a link of some pictures my sister took at the Howard College Breast Cancer Awareness Day on April 30, 2011!  Hope it works. HAWKS The Day was AMAZING!! I was NOT prepared for how emotional it would be for me - at all! The baseball pitch was first and I was able to see some of the local healthcare providers come out to support me and talk to the President of the College, Dr. Sparks, I knew again, I wasn't just a rep. and two Dr. Sparks said "welcome to our family", which meant the world to me.  As I walked out to the mound, I knew I wasn't doing this just for me but for everyone that supported me, my family, my friends, these players that didn't even know me but more importantly as they were reading about me through the loudspeaker that's when the tears started rolling because I wasn't just a coaches wife anymore - we were ALL a TEAM battling this together.

Pep Talk to the Team prior to the game!

Reflecting and Resting!

During these last two weeks I have officially had 2 of my 12 treatments of Taxol/Herceptin.  One last Wednesday and one yesterday.  Last Wednesday lasted 6 hours in the office but yesterday was only 2 1/2.  The first treatment caused some jittery feelings in my legs and a headache but we got some meds that took that away and put me to sleep through the entire treatment.  I was fine when I got home, energy was good, I had flu-like symptoms for a few days but just battled through them.  Yesterday I did not experience the jittery feelings and today has been more tiredness that last time, and the achiness has begun, just like you feel when you have the flu, which is a normal side-effect.  I am just optimistic that I will be fine since my return to work day is at the end of this month, with really no choices on my part if I want to keep my employment with AZ.  So I will do as I preach and just battle through it and do my best.  I have also started exercising, just here at home, 20-30 minutes a day, but I know exercise gives you energy and at this point that is what I need!  I know your thoughts and prayers will keep me going and so will my determination and hope for a cancer free report in August!.

I spoke to Baylor and I will go back to see them mid-july when I complete the 12 week round.  We will repeat the PET scan and then meet with a radiologist oncologist to determine the radiation schedule, which at this time is tentatively set for 5 weeks, daily.  I will also try to meet with a re-constructive surgeon at that same time.  That surgery we are hoping to do towards the end of December.